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Virginians prepare for record-breaking Thanksgiving holiday travel

Posted at 11:49 PM, Nov 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-20 14:13:41-05

NORFOLK, Va. - Thanksgiving is just days away, and AAA says more than 1 million people in Virginia are expected to travel for the holiday.

Whether in the air, on the rails or on the roads there could be heavy traffic on the roads this week.

It's expected to be the highest Thanksgiving travel since 2005, with many people choosing to get away in their car.

Related: More than 54 million Americans expected to travel this Thanksgiving

AAA says the highest peak times of congestion on the roads is the day before Thanksgiving between 5-7 p.m. Adding the holiday travelers, on top of the regular commuters can cause more congestion and delays on highways, bridges and tunnels.

People who aren't traveling told News 3's Aleah Hordges they hope to get off work early.

"It's just Thanksgiving, and people are going out of town. I'm off around 6, so it might be a little traffic just coming home, but I'm hoping not traffic," said Virginia Beach resident Patrice Poole.

And it's not just the roads that will see traffic. Air travel and alternate ways of transportation are expected to be busy.

AAA says drivers will pay the highest gas prices over the Thanksgiving holiday of $2.35 per gallon, but some people tell News 3 it can be a lot worse.

"For people who are traveling, that's definitely a good thing. It's definitely a time that you have to try and save," said Poole.

Studies show the economy is better than years past around the holiday season, so AAA said people are spending the money on travel to be with family.